System and method for operation and management of reconfigurable unmanned aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016304199-A1
Application number	US-201414560765-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 4, 2014
Priority date	Dec 4, 2014
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A reconfigurable unmanned aircraft system is disclosed. A system and method for configuring a reconfigurable unmanned aircraft and system and method for operation and management of a reconfigurable unmanned aircraft in an airspace are also disclosed. The aircraft is selectively reconfigurable to modify flight characteristics. The aircraft comprises a set of rotors. The position of at least one rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of translation of the rotor relative to the boom, pivoting of the boom relative to the base, and translation of the boom relative to the base; so that flight characteristics can be modified by configuration of position of at least one rotor relative to the base. A method of configuring an aircraft having a set of rotors on a mission to carry a payload comprises the steps of determining properties of the payload including at least mass properties, determining the manner in which the payload will be coupled to the aircraft, determining configuration for each of the rotors in the set of rotors at least partially in consideration of the properties of the payload, and positioning the set of rotors in the configuration for the aircraft to perform the mission.

First claim

1 - 104 . (canceled)

105 . A method of reconfiguring a selectively reconfigurable unmanned aircraft having a first rotor on a first boom coupled to a base and a second rotor on a second boom coupled to the base for a mission to carry a payload comprising:
(a) determining the effect of the payload on flight characteristics; (b) modifying the position of at least one rotor relative to the base; wherein position of the rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (1) translation of the rotor relative to the boom; (2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base; (3) translation of the boom relative to the base; so that flight characteristics can be modified by reconfiguration of position of at least one rotor relative to the base.

106 . The method of claim 105 wherein position of the rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (4) retraction of the boom relative to the base; (5) pivoting of the rotor relative to the boom; (6) raising the height of the boom relative to the base; (7) lowering the height of the boom relative to the base; (8) rotation of the rotor relative to the boom; (9) rotation of the boom relative to the base.

107 . The method of claim 105 wherein determining the effect of payload on flight characteristics comprises determining the flight characteristics of the aircraft with payload.

108 . (canceled)

109 . The method of claim 105 wherein determining the flight characteristics comprises at least one of determining the flight characteristics of the aircraft when the aircraft is in flight on the mission, determining the flight characteristics of the aircraft before the aircraft is in flight on the mission, and determining the effect of a change in the payload during the flight.

110 - 111 . (canceled)

112 . The method of claim 105 wherein modifying the position of at least one rotor relative to the base is at least partially in consideration of the properties of the payload.

113 . (canceled)

114 . The method of claim 105 wherein translation of the rotor relative to the boom comprises translation of the rotor along the boom.

115 . The method of claim 105 wherein flight characteristics comprise at least one of aerodynamic profile, maneuverability, available thrust, available lift, energy consumption, energy efficiency, mass, mass properties, center of mass, center of gravity, balance point, stability, controllability, control axes, maximum relative ground velocity, maximum relative air speed, ascent rate, descent rate, sink rate, flight altitude, aerodynamic drag, number of operational rotors, control system type, equipment status.

116 . The method of claim 105 wherein flight characteristics can at least one of be modified in response to operating conditions for a mission and be modified by at least one of (a) changing rotation speed of at least one rotor, (b) changing pitch of vanes of at least one rotor, and (c) changing position of a rotor relative to at least one other rotor.

117 . The method of claim 116 wherein operating conditions for a mission comprise at least one of operability of each rotor, energy storage capacity, remaining energy storage, payload profile, payload mass, payload type, payload shape, payload size, payload changes, route, altitude, traffic, weather conditions, weather effects, wind velocity, wind direction, distance of mission, remaining distance of mission, time for mission, remaining time for mission, fuel storage capacity, remaining fuel, energy storage capacity, remaining stored energy.

118 - 120 . (canceled)

121 . The method of claim 116 wherein operating conditions comprises a change in the payload.

122 - 141 . (canceled)

142 . The method of claim 105 wherein reconfiguration is performed during a mission to rebalance mass properties after partial delivery of payload.

143 . The method of claim 105 wherein reconfiguration of a rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (1) translation of the rotor relative to the boom; (2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base; (3) translation of the boom relative to the base; (4) retraction of the boom relative to the base; (5) pivoting of the rotor relative to the boom; (6) raising the height of the boom relative to the base; (7) lowering the height of the boom relative to the base; (8) rotation of a rotor relative to the base; (9) rotational twist of the boom relative to the base; (10) changing spacing of the rotor relative to another rotor; (11) changing incline of the rotor; (12) changing horizontal position of the rotor relative to the base; (13) changing the vertical position of the rotor relative to the base; (14) moving the rotor inward relative to the base; (15) moving the rotor outward relative to the base; (16) tilting the rotor; (17) changing the rotor thrust; (18) disabling the rotor; (19) adjusting the pitch of vanes of a rotor; (20) changing the rotation speed of the rotor.

144 - 174 . (canceled)

175 . A selectively reconfigurable aircraft for unmanned flight with payload providing flight characteristics comprising:
(a) a base; (b) a first rotor on a first boom coupled to the base; (c) a second rotor on a second boom coupled to the base; (d) a monitoring system configured to monitor conditions of the aircraft including a payload; wherein position of the first rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (1) translation of the rotor relative to the boom; (2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base; (3) translation of the boom relative to the base; wherein position of the second rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of (1) translation of the rotor relative to the boom; (2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base; (3) translation of the boom relative to the base; so that flight characteristics can be modified by reconfiguration of the position of at least one rotor relative to the base.

176 . The aircraft of claim 175 wherein the monitoring system comprises a sensor to monitor at least one of the condition of the payload, status of the payload, disability of a rotor, and malfunction of a rotor.

177 - 191 . (canceled)

192 . The aircraft of claim 175 wherein the base comprises at least one of a reference point for determining rotor position, an attachment point for an article such as a payload, a power plant, energy storage for powering a rotor, a center of mass, a structure, a frame, a frame member, a space frame, and a compartment.

193 - 221 . (canceled)

222 . The aircraft of claim 175 wherein at least one rotor comprises at least one of the first rotor, each rotor of a rotor system, and a rotor configured to provide a variable amount of thrust.

223 - 224 . (canceled)

225 . The aircraft of claim 175 wherein a boom comprises at least one of an arm, a member, a space frame, and a robotic arm.

226 . The aircraft of claim 175 wherein each boom comprises at least one of an arm, a member, an adjustable boom, and a boom mounted on a frame of the base.

227 - 229 . (canceled)

230 . The aircraft of claim 175 wherein (2) pivoting of the boom relative to the base comprises at least one of (a) lateral direction or axis or (b) vertical direction or axis.

231 . The aircraft of claim 175 wherein (3) translation of the boom relative to the base comprises at least one of (a) long

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Chan Alistair K
• Cheatham Iii Jesse R
• Chin Hon Wah
• Duncan William David
• Hyde Roderick A
• Ishikawa Muriel Y
• Kare Jordin T
• Pan Tony S
• Petroski Robert C
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Tuckerman David B
• Weaver Thomas Allan
• Wood Jr Lowell L

Classifications

• B64U50/11

  using internal combustion piston engines · CPC title

• B64U2101/60

  for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons · CPC title

• B64C27/52

  Tilting of rotor bodily relative to fuselage (of see-saw type construction B64C27/43) · CPC title

• B64U50/19

  using electrically powered motors · CPC title

• B64U30/293 Primary

  Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports · CPC title